Ease restrictions that cost thousands of dollars, food truck owners tell city

Food truck owners in Toronto say current bylaw restrictions are costing them a lot of money every yearand they are demanding action from the city.

Food trucks can only operate in "pay and display" parking areaswhere 9:30 a.m. is the start time. The city sends them aticket in the mail if they park any timebefore that.

"Last year, I paid the city $7,000 in tickets," said Randy Kangal, the owner of Randy's Curbside Food Truck.

"It's very hectic trying to get in and out. There's traffic, there's construction, there are somany different challenges just trying to get in and out of parking."

But Carleton Grant, the executive director of municipal licensing and standards with the City of Toronto, saysfood truck owners must follow the parking rules within the city like anyone else.

"I find that highly odd that they are getting ticketed thousands of dollars," saidGrant.

"They're getting tickets because they're not following the parking laws of the city."

Bylaw review request

According to the city'spermits and licensing department, onlytwo food trucks are allowed on one street block at a time, a food truck can only be parked in one spot for a maximum of five hours, and the trucks cannot be parked within30 metres ofan open or operating restaurant.

A bylaw review is underway.

Kangal is hoping to see:longer vending times, more trucks allowed on the streets and a change in the minimum distance allowed betweenfood trucks andoperating restaurants.

"We're at 30 metres right now, I would like to see at least 15," Kangal said.

"Lets see what happens."

But Grant sayscouncil looked at adjusting the minimum distanceto25 metres andzero metres. Both ideas failed.

"This bylaw has been reviewed several times in the last five years and we do not have the capacity to review a bylaw every year," said Grant.

"These rules come into place, we need to let them settle. We need people to understand how they work for them and for the public, versus setting new rules every year."

The Ontario Restaurant Hotel and Motel Association (ORHMA) andits Toronto regional membership stated in an email to CBC News thattheysupportthe current bylaws.

"Unpredictability of when and where a food truck may show up, creates an unfair disadvantage for brick-and-mortar restaurants this level of competition must be addressed by permits and regulations guiding when and where a food truck can operate," saidLeslie Smejkal, the vice-president for government relations withORHMA.

Morefood trucks coming to Toronto

The dispute comes asmore diverse and upscalefood truckbusinesses are applying to operate in Toronto. On June 13, the cityinformednew owners to submit their applications to thelicensing department.

Forty-nine applications have been put in place for new gourmet food trucks, statistics from the city show.

Since 2014, Toronto's gourmet food truck scene has doubled from 43 trucks to 81.Even current food truck owners are welcoming the new competition.

"I think the diversity of food is great,more the merrier," said Grant.

"If they show the talent, and want to come, [then] definitely," said Kamalheepan Kanthasamy, owner of the Mexican Bowl food truck.

"If customers choose them because they like it, I don't mind it."